Annunciator or signal.



C. U. GRAMELSPACHER.

ANNUNCIATOR 0R SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY17, I915- Patented May 2,1916.

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enter Attorneys Witnesses hilli /WWW nv c. u. GRAMELSPACHER. ANNUNQIATOR 0R SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1915.

1, l 8 ,44 5 Patented May 2, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Witnesses w ffwglffim gpwl nventor THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c

CLARENCE U. GRAMELSPACI-IER, OF JASPER, INDIANA.

ANNUNCIATOR OR SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratenteena 2, mac.

Application filed May 17, 1915. Serial No. 28,747.

To all whom it may concern Be 1t known that I, CLARENCE U. GRAM- ELSPACHER, a cltizen of the Unlted States,

residing at Jasper, in the county of Dubois and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Annunciator or Signal, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to annunciators or signals, and aims to provide a novel and improved annunciator or signal mechanism adapted especially for use in connection with mail boxes, although the mechanism may be employed in other capacities for annuncia-ting or signaling purposes.

It is the object of the invention to provide an annunciating or signaling mechanism whereby when a mail man deposits the mail in the mail box, an'electrical circuit will be closed for operating a motor or equivalent device, to bring a signalmember to displaying position, and for then opening the electrical circuit, the signal member remaining in active position whereby the occupant of the dwelling receiving the mail, will be notified of the fact that mail has been deposited in the box.

It is also within the scope of the invention to improve the mechanism generally in its construction and detail, to enhance the utility thereof, and whereby the mechanism is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, as well as being practical and efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the com bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the mechanism, portions being illustrated diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, portions being illustrated diagrammatically.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a case or receptacle 1 which is disposed at a suitable point in the dwelling or residence, or at the proper location to be readily observed, and the horizontal shaft 2 is journaled through one wall of the case 1 and a bearing 3 supported within the case. A radial signal arm l of suitable character is attached to the outer protruding end of the shaft 2, and the inner end of the said shaft is provided with a radial arm 5 arranged at an obtuse angle with the arm 4.

The free end of the arm 5 is connected by means of a cord or flexible element 6 to a reel or spool 7 attached to the armature shaft 8 of an electric motor 9, whereby when the motor 9 is operated, the cord 6 will be wound upon the reel 7, and when the motor 9 is inoperative, the cord 6 may be readily unwound from the reel 7. The arm 5 is also connected near the shaft 2 by means of a link 10 to a switch 11 which normally en gages a contact 12, whereby when the cord 6 is wound upon the reel 7, the link 10 will pull the switch 11 out of engagement with the contact 12.

The motor is disposed upon the bottom of the case at one side of the vertical plane of the shaft 2, and the switch 11 is mounted for horizontal swinging movement upon the bottom of the case at the opposite side of said vertical plane, whereby the parts will be efii'ectively operated by the motor from the dotted line to the full line position in Fig. 2.

A wire or conductor 13 connects the contact 12 and one terminal of the motor 9, and the other terminal of the motor is connected by a conductor or wire 14: to one pole of a battery or other suitable source of electrical energy 15. The other pole of the battery is connected by a conductor 16 to a contact 17 associated with the mail box 19, it being preferable to employ the lid or cover 18 of the mail box as a switch, whereby when the lid 18 is opened, it will swing into engagement with the contact 17 for closing the electrical circuit. is connected by a conductor 20 to the switch 11. a

In operation, to set the mechanism, the signal arm 4 is swung downwardly to one side, whereby it will be in idle or inoperative position, and the cord 6 will thus be un wound from the reel 7, while the link 10 will swing the switch 11 into engagement with the contact 12. The lid 18 being normally closed, will be disengaged from the contact 17 and the electrical circuit is thus normally opened. WVhen the mail man opens the lid 18 of the mail box to deposit the The lid or switch 18 mail therein, the lid 18 engages the contact 17, and this closes the electrical circuit through the motor 9, as \vill'be readily evident. As a result, the armature shaft 8 of the motor will be rotated, and will wind the cord 6 upon the reel 7. This will swing the arm 5 toward the motor, whereby the signal arm 4 is raised to active or signaling position. At the same time, the link 10 pulls the switch 11 away from the contact 12, to open the circuit after the cord 6 has been properly wound upon the reel 7 tobring the signal arm 4: into annunciating position. Thus, even though the lid 18 be held open for some time, the electrical current is not wasted, since the switch 11 is opened as soon as the signal arm 4 is raised, to thereby stop the motor 9. It is also desirable to so stop the motor, to prevent the excessive winding of the cord 6 upon the reel 7. The signal arm 4: may then be observed at any time after the mail has been deposited in the mail box, so that the presence of mail in the mail box will be announced. After the signal has been observed, the signal arm 4 may be swung back to normal or initial position, to restore the parts to such position whereby they will again operate in the manner above described.

The present invention is not only adapted for use in connection with mail boxes, but

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A signal mechanism embodying a case, a

horizontal shaft journaled through one wall thereof and having a radial signal arm at its outer end and a second radial arm at its inner end arranged at an obtuse angle with the signal arm, an electric motor upon the bottom of the caSe at one side of the vertical plane of said shaft, a reel connected to the motor, a flexible element attached to the free end of said second mentioned arm and wound upon said reel, a horizontally normally swinging normally-closed switch upon the bottom of the case at the opposite side of vertical plane, a link connecting the switch and second mentioned arm near said shaft, and an electrical circuit including said motor and switch and including another switch.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signature 1n the presence of twowitnesses.

CLARENCE U. GRAMELSPACHER.

\Vitnesses Rom. G. HOGHGESANG,

JOHN J. WELP.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

